Torqeedo has done it again innovating motorization of small watercraft with electric propulsion. The New Torqeedo 1417-00 Spare Battery at 915 Wh 31 Ah which packs in 3X the power as the stock 1416-00 320 Wh 11 Ah Ultralight battery. Unlocking both distance and run time with all of the same features as the stock battery plus. The overall dimensions of the 1417 battery is the exact same but it has a bit more weight to it.
“Game Changer”
If you do a ton of kayak angling on large bodies of water I would recommend picking up the 1417 battery as your main and using the 1416 the which is included with the Ultralight 403 as your spare. In my previous article I went over the Travel 1415-00 battery for use as a spare battery. At 530 Wh 18 Ah this was efficient and allowed much more distance running the ultralight 403 all day long. Although with the included 1416 battery you can run all day long at slow speeds. The larger capacity allowed for running against tides and up rivers at a much wider open throttle.
The term “Game Changer” is often used in the industry for little things. This battery is a true”Game Changer”. Using the motor as you would previously paddling speed you will easily have a run time of 24 hours.
Why an Expensive Battery?
If you are not familiar with Torqeedos’ High Performance Lithium batteries, here are some reasons why they are top of the line. Torqeedo Inc. only uses high quality LiFePo (lithium iron phosphate) cells from Japan and the USA to have the most stability that lithium batteries can have. Therefore being safe to use on small watercraft. Torqeedo Inc has engineered The Battery Management System or BMS which balances the reactions necessary to charge the cells and output power to the motor. Torqeedo packs the cells separately in steel cylinders which unlike most lithium cells are packed in foil or coffee bags. The steel cylinders are the utmost protection without being as costly as ceramic cylinders. All Trorqeedo battery housings hold a Waterproof to IP67 rating. Meaning the battery can withstand being submerged in under 3.3 feet of water for 30 minutes. Any type of water in lithium batteries can lead to problems such as BMS hardware corrosion or creating electrolytic gas which is highly explosive.
If the battery becomes submerged for longer than 30 minutes you may want to send it to Torqeedo to be serviced.
The on board GPS is a computer within the battery. This computer communicates with the throttle controller to display your current speed and distance to charge. The new 1417 battery is also compatible with the Torq Trac module and app like the previous battery’s.
MSRP $899